HC Deb 13 March 2000 vol 346 cc12-3W
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of his Department's electricity is generated from renewable sources; and what target his Department has for meeting its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2010. [113053]

Mr. Chris Smith

The Department obtains its electricity from the host REC, London Electricity. The latest figures from London Electricity (1998) indicated that 98 per cent. of its supply comes from predominantly fossil fuel generating sources via the National Grid and 2 per cent. is purchased from local generators. These are mainly local combined heat and power schemes.

As the Department is too small to justify its own generating capacity, any future increase in the percentage of power obtained from renewable sources will rely on London Electricity or an alternative REC changing the make up of its own supply.